A 43-year-old businesswoman, accused of trafficking her underage niece to work in an interior nightclub, made her appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Joyce Lawrence of 306 Track ‘X’ Plantation Grove, East Bank Demerara was not required to plead to the three indictable charges, which included two counts of trafficking in persons and withholding an ID card.

Particulars of the first charge alleged that between December 12 and 14, 2014 at Samantha Point, Grove she trafficked and transported her niece, by means of threat.

It was further alleged that between July 1 and December 12, 2014 at Makawau night club in Aishalton, South Rupununi, she trafficked her niece to the said place to work by means of threat.

It is also alleged between December 1 and December 28, 2014, at Samantha Point, being the employer of the young lady, she unlawfully withheld her identification card.

Her lawyer, Euclin Gomes requested bail, noting that Lawrence is married and is a mother of three children. Gomes told the court that the incident is an ‘unfortunate situation’ since the young woman was brought to Lawrence’s home, which was deemed a discipline household. He said his client only wanted what was best for her niece.

However, Prosecutor Corporal Deniro Jones revealed that in 2014, the woman took her niece to work at Makawau night club without any parental consent.  Jones further alleged that the young woman was enslaved in her aunt’s home and had her identification card taken away.

According to the Prosecutor, the victim was discovered pregnant when she was found by police officers; she was taken away and placed into the custody of Social Protection while officers conducted their investigation.

Corporal Jones strongly objected to the woman being released on bail based on the grounds of the seriousness, gravity and penalty attached to the charges.

The businesswoman was nevertheless placed on $250,000 bail on each count of the trafficking charge and $150,000 bail for withholding her niece’s identification card. The matter was adjourned to May 30 and transferred to the Lethem Magistrate’s Court while the offence, which was allegedly committed at Samantha Point, will be heard at the Providence Magistrate’s court on March 23.